Chapter 5

That night, the Huntress came to Snow’s chambers dressed in soft shoes that would make no noise, armed with a sword in case anyone tried to stop them. “Were you able to follow the plan, highness?”

Snow nodded, pushing herself upright. “I haven’t… eaten… for hours,” she panted, her dark eyes sparkling over her puffy cheeks as she lifted herself a few wobbly inches. “I can move… so much more now-aahhh!” Her belly thundered, making Snow cry out with hunger.

“Your highness!” The Huntress hurried to pull Snow to a proper sitting position. “Don’t worry. My friends will have plenty to eat. You won’t be hungry for long.” Snow whimpered, ashamed that she couldn’t even go a few hours without food.

Footsteps echoed up the stairs. Snow shoved the Huntress away, shooing her toward her closet. The closet door clicked shut just as the Queen sailed around the corner, full of smiles and false good cheer. Behind her, two servants lugged a creaking cart loaded down with enough food for four soldiers.

“My dear, you haven’t been down for a single meal all day,” the Queen said, shooing away the servants. “And look at this! You haven’t touched any of the food I had sent up.”

Snow leaned back, the picture of feebleness. “I-I’m still feeling ill, stepmother, I don’t think I could stand to eat any-”

“Nonsense.” Snow flinched as the Queen sat on the edge of her bed. “Stepmommy knows what’s best for you.” The Queen pulled an apple out of her sleeve.

Snow White’s dainty feet curled and kicked, fruitlessly trying to push herself out of reach. “No, please, no!”

The Queen ignored her protests. Her sharp blade glinted in the candlelight as she peeled the apple. “Don’t be fussy. I don’t want you losing your appetite. Open wide.”

“Please-!”

The Queen shoved the apple into Snow’s mouth, clamping her hand over her lips so she couldn’t spit it out. “You will not take my throne from me,” she hissed. “I’ve worked too hard to get it.”

A muffled groan escaped Snow White’s lips as the apple did its work. Her enormous stomach rumbled like an earthquake.

“Hungry, are you?” The Queen ripped a haunch off the roast pig and pushed it into Snow’s mouth. Snow obediently gobbled it down, opening up for more, more, desperate to quell her ravenous appetite. Shame, anger, ecstasy filled her head, conflicting emotions bouncing off each other. Her belly ached, she wanted to stop! The food was so good, she wanted more!

The Queen stuffed fritters and cakes and pastries down the princess’s throat, cackling as her heavy belly swelled like bread dough. “Keep up, my dear. You’ve gone a whole day without.” Snow whimpered, torn between insatiable gluttony and pain.

At her cry, the Huntress jumped up, hand flashing to her sword. Snow White saw the movement through a crack in the closet door. Her eyes widened, and she shook her hefty head, chins wobbling. Not now.

Eyes narrowed suspiciously, the Queen turned…

“Stepmother, please!” Snow cried out, voice cracking pathetically. “I’m so full, I can’t take anymore!” Though she said it as a distraction, it was not untrue. Every bite was agony, and she could already feel new stretch marks burning their way across her soft flesh.

The Queen pinched Snow’s bulging cheeks, her eyes glinting wickedly. “Don’t say that, my dear, she said, roughly shoving her hand into Snow White’s inflated belly.” Snow cried out in pain. “Look at how soft this is. You’ve got plenty of room.” She smeared a loaf of bread with fresh butter, laughing as Snow struggled to right herself. “Now open wide.”

Snow obeyed, thankful to see the Huntress’s shadow settle back down. It will be over soon, Snow thought to herself as her large belly continued to swell, painfully tight, pressing her meaty breasts up against her face till she could hardly breathe. Just keep chewing and don’t think about how much it hurts.

∻∻∻

“Huntress, help!” Snow cried, her swollen stomach lodged firmly between two trees yet again. The woodland paths were for walking after all, not clumsy wobbling.

“I’m here, I’ve got you!” the Huntress said, scooping her powerful arms under Snow’s shoulders and pulling her loose. Snow leaned against the Huntress, legs shaking. The women gazed at each other, suddenly aware of the romantic moonlight.

“D-don’t worry, your highness,” the Huntress said, lifting Snow back to her feet. She was grateful that the darkness hid her flushed face and pounding heart. “I won’t let you fall.”

“I don’t know… if it will be up to you…” Snow White huffed, too exhausted to even lift her heavy arms and wipe away the sweat dripping down her forehead. The castle still loomed behind them, too close for a rest. But her obese body was already protesting being moved such a distance, and the apple’s effects were still working on her. The trees lurched disconcertingly as her head swam with hunger. Her stomach emitted another loud rumble.

The Huntress propped her up against a tree. “I’ll forage for something to eat,” she said.

“Wait!” Snow reached out a plump hand, her legs wobbling, the forest spinning around her. “I don’t think I can-” Snow White pitched forward, exhaustion finally overtaking her. The Huntress ran to catch her, but her powerful muscles weren’t enough. Both women crashed to the ground, the Huntress pinned under Snow White’s bulk.

The Huntress lay still for a moment, dazed by the sudden tidal wave of overfed flesh crashing into her. She could hardly breathe. But it was not the pressure of falling that knocked all the air out of her lungs. No, the soft cheek that pressed against hers, the waterfall of chins laying against her neck, the red lips wheezing in an exhausted sleep… that was far more breathtaking.

Ears burning red, the Huntress wrestled her hand out and produced a piercing two fingered whistle that startled away a handful of crows. She stroked the ends of Snow’s dark hair, her heart pounding under the avalanche of warm, soft fat. She hoped her friends would not come too quickly.

∻∻∻

As she came to, Snow could only feel her pitifully empty stomach. She groaned with hunger, and someone pressed a bowl to her lips. She gulped gratefully, savouring the hearty stew swimming with potatoes and garlic.

As her belly filled, her mind cleared. She was in a tiny sod cabin, half living space, half brewery. Shafts of light through grubby windows shone over a line of copper kegs. Sacks of sugar and piles of jewel-bright fruit filled every corner; strawberries, cherries, pears, blackberries… but not an apple in sight. The wood stove crackled with a hearty fire next to the bed — no, ROW of beds — that had been shoved together to hold up her bulk.

Snow jerked in alarm, rolls wobbling, as she saw at least half a dozen little men surrounding her, all burley and bearded and as wide as they were tall. “Who are you? Where am I?? Huntress!”

“I’m here, your highness,” the Huntress said, pushing her way past the little men. “Don’t worry, you’re perfectly safe here with the dwarves.”

A red-headed dwarf laughed, his jelly-like chest shaking with merriment. “Of course she’s safe! You think we would hurt our darling daughter’s girlfr-?”

“Heavymane!” The Huntress cleared her throat, ears burning. “Your highness, if I may introduce-” The dwarves raised their hats and called off one by one:

“Platebuster!”

“Barrelsha per.”

“Heavymane.”

“Bucklebreaker...”

“Iron-gut.”

“Shatterbench.”

“And Lardbelly!”

The Huntress smiled at the little men. “These are the friends I was telling you about. Or, family, really.”

“Found her lost in the woods when she was just a bab.”

“Cutest little thing, she was!”

“Couldn’t help but fall in love with the little hallion.”

Snow White dipped a curtsey as gracefully as she could while bed bound. “It’s… a pleasure… to meet you,” she huffed. Her stomach roared. She blushed. “I’m so sorry! I haven’t- I mean-”

Shatterbench laughed. “Go fetch her another bowl of stew, Barrelshaper. Can’t you see the poor lass is wasting away?” He nudged the Huntress. “Sure, but didn’t you say your young lady was a catch!” The red-faced Huntress coughed, suddenly very interested in rearranging the chairs around the rough wooden table.

Snow White gratefully drained another bowl. The dwarves’ cooking was wonderful, as one would expect of such a blubbery race. As she ate, Snow told the dwarves her story, the Huntress taking over when she needed to catch her breath. “So,” Snow said, wiping her lips. “Do you think you could help me?”

Ventilators bubbled, filling the silence as the dwarves looked sideways at each other. Bucklebreaker shifted his feet. “It’s not that we don’t want to help…”

“But dwarves don’t do favours for humans,” Platebuster finished.

“Aye, not anymore!”

“A midden lot, they all are!” Iron-Gut slapped his namesake angrily, sending wobbles all the way down his thighs. “Have a nasty habit of taking what isn’t theirs!”

“No offence to you, love,” Heavymane said, patting the Huntress’s arm. “Sure, but raised you better than that.”

Snow White bit her lip, her last shred of hope snatched away. “I understand…”

The Huntress stuck out her chin, unwilling to let the matter go. “What if… what if she beats you in a Grumblegut Hell Challenge? Then she would be entitled to ask a favour!”

Bucklebreaker puffed at his cigar thoughtfully. “The Grumblegut Hell Challenge? You sure, lass?” He gave Snow White an appraising glance. “I mean, she’s a fine enough big job, with a belly even a dwarf would be proud of… But the Hell Challenge is the last resort of the desperate.”

“Does it… involve… walking?” Snow asked.
The dwarves roared with laughter.

“Hardly, lass!”

“Then I’ll do it!”

∻∻∻

Platebuster presided over the food-crowded table, counting the rules off on his chubby fingers. “No stealing off anyone’s plate, no punching, no kicking, no vomiting. Drink as much beer as you like, but it does not count toward victory.” Several dwarves booed. “Last contestant chewing is the winner.”

The Huntress loosened Snow White’s lacing, giving her blimp-like belly plenty of room to expand. “You’ll have to eat more than all seven of them put together,” she said. “It won’t be easy, and no one will think less of you for backing down.”

“I will think less of me.” Snow White sat up straight, enormous belly shoving apart her useless legs.

The Huntress’s heart soared with pride. “You’ll do wonderfully,” she said, giving Snow’s hand one last squeeze.

Barrelshaper held his filthy work rag aloft.
“Ready… Set… Eat!”

He slammed the rag down on the table, and all eight contestants began cramming food into their mouths.

The dwarves were fast, stuffing themselves at an inhuman pace. Snow could not match their speed, but she was bigger, had more practice, and had more to lose.

Fresh berries, roast swan, thick soup with meat and vegetables. The dwarves were excellent cooks, and Snow could not help groaning in ecstasy as she shovelled more and more down her throat. Mulled wine, aged cheese, fresh peaches covered in syrup…

The afternoon wore on.

Bellies swelled, chairs creaked, but no one showed any signs of stopping. The Huntress kept busy, cheering Snow on and replacing empty plates. Stuffed peacocks, wild boar, pears in red wine...

Heavymane grunted, struggling to stretch his arms over his broad belly. Sugared nuts, spiced porridge, slabs of bread with fresh butter... Iron-Gut loosened his belt and wiped his brow. Roast turkey, pastries drizzled with honey, mushroom and spinach tarts… Snow could feel herself expanding, bed frames digging into her belly, creaking under her weight…

Platebuster was the first to fall, his chair collapsing under him. He accepted his fate, flopping back on the floor and settling into a cosy food coma. One by one, the other dwarves gave up. Bucklebreaker unbuttoned his pants with a pained groan. Iron-Gut slumped over the table, fat cheeks bulging with food, too full to swallow, but too stubborn to spit it back out.

Lardbelly, the youngest and fattest, was the last dwarf standing. He winked at Snow, stuffing fritters in his mouth two at a time. “Don’t worry… about me… lass…” he huffed. “This is just... a snack… for me.”

Snow did not answer; she was having difficulty maintaining consciousness. Even under her stepmother’s torture, she had never eaten so much at once. Her belly bulged in front of her, shoving back the table, tight as a drum and a bright, painful red.

Red.

Round and red.

Like an apple.

She wheezed heavily, her stepmother’s sneering face swimming in her hazy vision. “Eat, eat, eat, Snow. That’s all you’re good for.” Snow whined, dreading the thought of lifting her massive arms for even one more bite.

Cool hands touched her overstuffed stomach, massaging it gently. “Just a little more,” the Huntress whispered. “Lardbelly won’t last much longer.”

“How very dare yo-!” Lardbelly burped and swayed, his face looking distinctly green.
Snow’s belly gurgled, grateful for the Huntress’s soothing touch. She shook her head. “I can’t…”

“Yes you can. I’ve never seen anyone eat like you. It’s…” The Huntress looked away, eyes sparkling with admiration. “...magnificent.”

Snow White’s cheeks burned. No one had ever spoken of her with such breathless reverence.

The Huntress held up a thick slice of pie, crust dripping with butter. “You can do this,” she said. Snow, heart fluttering, obediently opened her mouth.

There was only one pie left. She and Lardbelly would have to split. The Huntress fed her one slice… two… three..
Lardbelly lifted his fork with trembling fingers…

He retched. “I give up!” he said, sinking miserably into his own flab. “A good dwarf knows when he’s been beat. We travel in -urp- the morning.”

The Huntress squealed with joy, throwing her arms around Snow’s pillowy breast. Snow, too full to do anything else, sighed happily and swallowed the rest of her bite.